The Bears interviewed Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich for their head coaching job Saturday.
The 43-year-old Flores has been running Minnesota’s defense the last two seasons after a stint as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach for Pittsburgh in 2022. That came after he was Miami’s head coach for three years, going 24-25 with the Dolphins and making no postseason appearances before being fired.
On Feb. 1, 2022, Flores filed a federal lawsuit against the league, the Dolphins, the Giants, and the Broncos. Flores, who is Black, alleged racist hiring practices for leadership positions across the NFL. Flores spent 15 seasons with the Patriots in a number of positions before getting the Dolphins’ job.
Flores interviewed with the Jets on Friday and was expected to speak with the Jaguars about their head coaching vacancy. The Vikings finished second to Detroit in the NFC North at 14-3.
Stenavich just completed his second season as offensive coordinator under Matt LaFleur. He was Green Bay’s offensive line coach the previous three years.
Led by quarterback Jordan Love, the Packers ranked fifth in the NFL in yards per game and eighth in scoring.
Green Bay finished third in the NFC North at 11-6 despite having the league’s youngest roster for the second straight year. The Packers lost at Philadelphia in the opening round of the playoffs.
Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner out of Southern California, was shown seated courtside Saturday at the Wisconsin-USC men’s basketball game in Los Angeles with his right throwing hand in a cast or wrap. It went from about his lower knuckles to below his wrist.
A person familiar with the situation said Williams had a minor elective procedure. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team and Williams have not commented on it.
The Bears have confirmed interviewing 16 candidates, a list highlighted by Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, former Seahawks and Patriots coach Pete Carroll, former Packers and Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, and Mike Vrabel, who got the job in New England.
Chicago has also interviewed Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, interim coach Thomas Brown, former Panthers and Comanders coach Ron Rivera, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, former Stanford coach David Shaw, Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, and Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka.
Cowboys consider Saleh, Frazier
The Cowboys interviewed former Jets coach Robert Saleh, another step in the search to replace McCarthy.
The in-person interview with Saleh came a day after Dallas held a virtual interview with Philadelphia offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who was franchise quarterback Dak Prescott’s play-caller from 2019-22.
Saleh was fired by the Jets five games into his fourth season with a 20-36 record. Saleh also has interviewed for the defensive coordinator opening in San Francisco, the job he had when the Jets hired him in 2021.
The Cowboys are set for another interview with a coach with a defensive background in Seattle assistant head coach Leslie Frazier.
The former Minnesota coach was defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay and Buffalo after the Vikings fired him following the 2013 season.
Falcons tab Ulbrich for defense
The Falcons brought Jeff Ulbrich back to Atlanta, naming their former assistant as defensive coordinator on Saturday night.
Ulbrich, who spent much of last season as the Jets’ interim coach, takes over a defense that ranked 23rd in total defense and in points allowed.
The defense ranked last in sacks through nine games. A late-season surge wasn’t enough to prevent a seventh consecutive losing season.
Atlanta interviewed Ulbrich on Wednesday, four days after firing Lake and defensive line coach Jay Rodgers. Ulbrich was 3-9 as interim coach after the Jets fired Saleh.
Ulbrich interviewed for the Jets’ full-time head coaching job Monday. He was an assistant for Atlanta from 2015-20. The announcement from the Falcons came only hours after the team announced an interview with Eberflus.
Ravens might go without Flowers
The Ravens elevated journeyman wide receiver Anthony Miller and nose tackle Josh Tupou from the practice squad for Sunday night’s playoff game at Buffalo.
Miller, 30, caught three passes in last weekend’s 28-14 win over Pittsburgh. He had only one catch during the regular season.
Wide receiver Zay Flowers missed the game against the Steelers because of a knee injury, and he’s doubtful for Sunday.
